Minnesota Vikings predictions: Week 13 vs. Jacksonville

It seems like the Minnesota Vikings (5-6) have an easy win waiting for them Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10) at U.S. Bank Stadium.

After all, the Vikings have already lost their “trap game” this season — the 31-28 loss to Dallas in Week 11 — so lessons have been learned. Hopefully.

However, one NFL expert was bold enough to predict a Vikings loss, one that would surely bring their playoff push to a screeching halt. Maybe the return to Minnesota by former St. John’s University offensive lineman Ben Bartch will be enough to push the Jaguars over the edge.

Here’s this week’s Vikings predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Vikings 27, Jaguars 20.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times: Vikings 28, Jaguars 21. “Despite record, the Jaguars have played some teams tough. The Vikings have come around, however, and have won four of five. They should handle business before heading to Tampa next week.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: Vikings 31, Jaguars 17. “The Jaguars are playing out the string, while the Vikings are still alive. Jacksonville is 1-3 in Minnesota and has been outscored 103-38 in the three losses. This one will be lopsided as well. The Vikings will move the ball against a banged-up Jaguars defense, and the Jaguars won’t keep up. Vikings big.”

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal: Vikings 28, Jaguars 20. “The Jaguars’ defense has been more competitive in recent weeks despite cascading injuries. Mike Glennon is coming off the best game by a Jaguars quarterback all season. That’s why I’d guess that Vikings fans will sweat this one out more than they’d like before completing an impressive journey back to .500.”

Will Brinson of CBSSports.com: Jaguars 35, Vikings 31. “Jacksonville is a live dog here. The Vikings have been much better the last few weeks, but basically because they let Kirk Cousins throw the ball. Dalvin Cook will run the ball plenty but this could turn into a shootout and end up with tons of points. Mike Glennon is a good quarterback! Legit — he’s a billion times better than Jake Luton and that’s only because he’s a professional quarterback who’s been doing this for a decade. That matters.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Vikings 30, Jaguars 20.

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: Vikings 28, Jaguars 20. “Minny has won four of past five to enter wild-card chase, and gets WR Adam Thielen back. Sinking Jax just fired its GM. A blowout would not surprise, yet I’m hunching Jags with a double-digit head start. Their D has been better the past month, and recent losses to Texans, Packers and Browns have been by eight combined points.”

Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News: Vikings 31, Jaguars 14. “The Vikings had two fluky fumbles go for touchdowns against them against the Panthers, making the game much closer than it should have been. The Jaguars simply cannot stop the Vikings’ principal playmakers for Kirk Cousins, led by Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. The Vikings’ defense is containing much better with their zone defense to stop any threat of a Mike Glennon comeback.”

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com: Vikings.

Bill Bender of the Sporting News: Vikings 31, Jaguars 21. “The Vikings are coming off a come-back victory, and Dalvin Cook will take advantage of a Jacksonville run defense that ranks 29th in the NFL at 136.2 yards per game. The Jaguars have played the Packers and Browns close the last three weeks, but this is a tougher matchup on the road.”

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com: Vikings 27, Jaguars 24.

Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: Vikings.

Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area: Vikings 24, Jaguars 17. “Minnesota barely got past the Panthers to keep their playoff hopes on life support. That came a week after they fell on their face against an awful Cowboys team. The Vikings should win, but I can’t lay 9.5 with this team.”

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS –Vikings 31,Jaguars 10; Florio – Vikings 31, Jaguars 23.

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network: Vikings 30, Jaguars 21. “Kirk Cousins threw a game-winning touchdown to Chad Beebe to overcome the Carolina Panthers last time out, and with Adam Thielen returning to the team, they should be easily able to overcome a Jaguars defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards per game.”

Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank: Vikings 31, Jaguars 13.

All six analysts at SI.com are picking the Vikings.

All three writers at Athlon Sports pick the Vikings to win.

All 10 SB Nation writers predict a Vikings victory.

All six PennLive.com writers pick the Vikings to win.